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Importance of Fajr prayer

I normally write short posts, but this post is going to be a bit long.I don’t know, but there is something which is telling me to share this post.

I hope that you’ll read this post in best of your health and to tell you the truth that this post is a reminder for myself.

My dear friends, Muslims offer their prayers five times in a day. It provides an excellent way to communicate with Allah Almighty. But, today, I missed my Fajr prayer and to be very honest I’m feeling very bad for myself.

For those who don’t know about the Fajr prayer, it is the prayer which the Muslims offer between dawn and sunrise and it is the most favored prayer of Allah Almighty. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one of His hadiths:

“Whoever performs the Prayer before the rising of the sun and the Prayer before its setting will not enter Hell.” (Muslim)

While, surfing internet I came across this detailed answer which beautifully describes the importance of Fajr prayer.

The Importance of the Fajr Prayer

“Whoever prays the two cooler prayer times (i.e., Fajr and `Asr) will enter Paradise.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Ibn ‘Allan comments on that Fajr and ‘Asr were specified since they are two times when one can easily miss the prayer: whether they are lost in sleep during Fajr or engrossed in trade and work at ‘Asr.

It is understood that the one who prays these two, usually prays all five daily prayers.

Finally, the reward mentioned in the hadith indicates that the one who regularly prays Fajr and ‘Asr can be expected to have a good ending to their life: that they die upon faith as a Muslim. Which of us would not be eager to rise for the Fajr prayer if we truly understood the benefits: a death on faith and eternal success? [Ibn ‘Allan, Dalil al-Faliheen]

Some Warnings About Missing the Fajr Prayer

The Prophet [Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him] said:
“Whoever prays the dawn prayer [Fajr], then He is under Allah’s protection. So beware, O son of Adam, that Allah doesn’t call you to account for being absent from His protection for any reason.” [Muslim]

If the rewards do not convince us, once we understand the seriousness of going about our day without Allah’s protection around us for the day in which we missed Fajr, that should push us to make every effort to wake up the next morning, and keep trying, until we establish its observance as a habit.Some Practical Steps to Waking Up

There are many different techniques to try to wake up for Fajr. They vary from person to person, depending on what prevents a person from waking up.

Physical Preparations

There are various physical preparations: 1) winding down before bed and sleeping early, 2) setting multiple alarms out of one’s immediate reach, 3) simplifying one’s bedding, 4) drinking ample water so one is forced to the washroom or 5)having a family member or friend wake you up when they rise. These are some of the main suggestions, of which sleeping early is perhaps the most common remedy.

Mental Preparations

Then, there are mental preparations: 1) before bed, visualizing oneself rising, washing and praying, 2) telling the mind with firm resolve before bed that there is an important appointment at Fajr that one must attend [with Allah], or 3) warning the mind beforehand that the body will indeed be tempted to close its eyes “for just a few more minutes” when the alarm rings- and not to give in to it.

Spiritual Preparations

Finally, there are the spiritual preparations: 1) filling the heart with the importance and love for praying Fajr and the fear of missing it, 2) begging Allah Most High before bed for the ability to wake up the following morning, 3) a feeling deep-seated regret and sadness if one misses it and immediately making it up, and 4) trying to avoid other major sins in one’s life and repenting from them to try to gain divine assistance [tawfiq].

If one accidentally misses Fajr, however, while they should feel regretful, they should never feel despair and hopelessness such that they feel dissuaded from trying to wake up the next morning, since it is a sign that they were relying on themselves, and not on Allah Most High as they should be.

The Reality of Fajr

Few people find it hard to wake up if there is a plane to catch the next morning or a lucrative job interview. This is because we are so desirous to take that trip or get that job, so our eyes open with vigor when the alarm rings. Some people might awaken even before the alarm, due to their anticipation.

The only reason this does not happen as often for Fajr is because we haven’t attached the same importance to the Hereafter as we have attached to our worldly lives. Our awe and sense of duty to Allah Most High might be weaker than our desire for the ephemeral things around us.

Those who are attached to Allah, however, see Fajr as more important than the rest of the day’s affairs put together, and so they find it easy to rise to worship their Lord, in submission and gratitude. They then find peace from this, which spurs them to rise again, in a positive cycle. Thus, it’s about breaking bad cycles and establishing good ones.

May Allah make us all among those who perform their prayers regularly.(Ameen)

Rising very early in the morning to pray is a wonderful thing. Usually our mind and hearts are rested and clear. It does work to ask for God’s help in waking up! I’ve tried it! Your observation about having the desire to pray then, is a very good one.